April – July Ministry update 2025

laurelannette

8 months ago

Greetings from Arizona,

First of all, I apologize that you haven’t heard from me for several months. April and May were enormously full not only with ministry at full tilt but every weekend traveling to Phoenix to be with my dad. This is an unusually long update so skip to the prayer requests, if short on time. Normally you read about the Indigenous Bible College (IBC) ministry first and any personal reflections at the end. However, this daunting season of life merits a flip flop.

My dad:

Over the past 6-7 months life has been flipped upside down. I’m deeply sad to share that my father, Alan Kitchen, passed away in late May. As you may know, I moved to Arizona in late September 2018 to care-give for my mom before she passed away and then my dad lived with me for 5.5 years before he needed to be moved into a memory care facility in spring of 2024. It took several months, but he finally settled into his new “home” and really enjoyed the other residents. They always expressed how nice and kind he was, how he was always wanting to help them, and that he was always the one to win at the games and activities. Once a cornhole champ, always a cornhole champ!

At 90 he was getting around remarkably well, but then in late 2024 a lump appeared which unfortunately was extremely aggressive while taking 4 months to get a PET scan and by the time he received a clear diagnosis (at the 5-month mark), the prognosis was 1-3 months. He died 3 weeks later from Merkel Cell Carcinoma, which affects 10 people in a million. We’re so grateful he was a follower of Jesus and now in heaven with my mom, at complete peace, no pain and with a clear mind!

After dad died my sisters, their daughters and I spent a few days together in Phoenix going through a lot of mom and dad’s things, dividing up family treasures, writing dad’s obituary, processing end-of-life next steps, etc. It was a bittersweet but very special time. Thank you for praying as we grieve his loss and prepare to “celebrate” him on September 20th when the entire family can be together.

Personal:

Regarding my 4-year health condition, I’m still not 100% but we stopped the empiric therapy in late May, with ongoing labs to monitor the calcium and kidney function. The labs in early July indicated only the second time in 3.5 years to have normal kidney function and my calcium has remained normal for the past 1.5 years. That’s good news – thanks for praying! Please pray for the sleep apnea to get under control, which causes continued fatigue, low energy and voice hoarseness. I’ve used a CPAP for 5 months, but my oxygen is too low while I sleep so a hospital sleep study is scheduled in September to determine next steps.

Ministry Team Development (MTD) – Reliant Missions financial and prayer support:

Thank you for your faithful prayers and giving. For over 6-months I apologize for not responding by sending “thank you” notes or acknowledging any special giving. My heart is so grateful for your financial and prayer support, without which I could not continue serving at IBC on mission for God’s Kingdom purposes.

In the next month my focus will be on reconnecting with ministry partners as I travel in Colorado and Indiana with the hopes of catching up on communication and seeing many of you in these areas to provide an in-person update.

If you’re in the vicinity of any of these speaking engagements, please stop by or get in touch with the hopes that we can cross paths. If you need more information, please contact me (see contact details at the end of the update).

Cotopaxi, Colorado July 15-19

Indiana – Indianapolis area: July 24 and August 4 -5th and 9 -10th

Columbus/Brown County area: July 25 -26th
Muncie/Winchester/Bluffton areas: July 26 -29th and August 6 -8th
Wabash/Lagro areas: July 29 -30th
North Eastern IN: July 31st- August 3rd

Sunday, 7/27 Selma Christ Church 9am, Selma

Wednesday, 7/30 Lagro Fellowship Church Bible Study 6pm, Lagro

Sunday, 8/3 Zion Missionary Church 10am AND Fremont United Methodist Church 10:30am, Fremont

Wednesday, 8/6 The Revolution Bible Study 6:30pm, Muncie

Prayers for safety while traveling and great connections over these weeks is appreciated!

IBC – Ministry Immersion Trip (MIT) reflections, Freedom Chapel and Graduation:

Spring 2025 School photo of students, faculty and staff

In April, the MIT was held in southern Colorado at the Christian Discipleship Center (CDC). IBC has an invested interest in helping them to get back up and running to provide a gap year program for young people who between high school and college are looking for opportunities to prepare for what’s next in life and find grounding in their faith.

The CDC now has a new name, THRIVE, along with a mission statement and values as they prepare to start this program. Please pray for the Lord to provide the right person for the Thrive director’s role.

MIT student reflections and personal testimonies:

giving control to the Lord and enjoyable worship times
the daily Devos spoke to me as well as the work projects. There was a God moment when praying for each other before the work project without any one knowing each other well. We prayed for the needy and sad community where they served that day. It was inspiring to see their leaders not wanting to give up.
the amazing part was that God didn’t make a mistake for the CDC experience. We accomplished a lot, but God also spoke to each one of us and we made connections with the people/staff at CDC.
The prayer drive was inspiring and helped us to be prepared to serve those people
I was compelled to talk to the Lord about the condition of suffering there, feeling compassion for their lives. I was to prompted to pray for redemption and appreciated the opportunity to pray.
It broke my heart to see the living conditions and reminded me some of home. Meeting people at the church was special, as they were shining brightly even though lost. I saw that God was present and working.
I felt led to pray for the people I met at the Alcoholic Anonymous meeting

Pray for those applying for the gap year program. Many are under spiritual attack when applying to IBC or Thrive.

Freedom Chapel:

One of the most uplifting times of the school year is hearing students share about how Jesus has helped them to heal from past emotional wounds and abuse. Upperclassman lead other students through the “Steps to Freedom” when they’re ready, which is a necessary step to let go of the bondages of the past in order to find out how to live an abundant life and one of spiritual freedom.

Here are some reflections from those who found freedom:

I grew closer to the Lord, through the power of vocalizing truth and denying lies. It provided a necessary time of confession. After prayer I felt lighter and slept 8 hours that night for the first time this year.
I know I had already been forgiven, but God brought to mind others that hurt my family and hurt me indirectly. I was able to give them to God, and not take vengeance, but forgive. It was freeing to let go of something that I didn’t realize I was holding onto.
It was a rewarding experience, to confess our sins to one another (James 5:16). I was exhausted afterwards, but felt empowered. My walk isn’t over but just getting started.
I appreciate the staff and mentors who offer the students grace and kindness in our journeys. I face a daily battle of unforgiveness, hurt feelings and bitterness, but now I’m learning how to forgive and reconcile with the Holy Spirit.
I had a lot of traumas at home growing up and didn’t fit in. The steps to freedom helped me a lot. And, I’m thankful for my spiritual formation mentors and life coach for believing in me.

Other students, further along in their healing journey, shared about going through the Native Mending the Soul (MTS) workbook:

I didn’t realize the abuse and trauma I experienced from people earlier in my life, but this was reflected in what I thought about myself. However, now I am believing in my identity in God. Jesus is my living hope.
Now I’m more free and filled with the Spirit of God. MTS brought me a lot of healing.
In my upbringing I realized that I was traumatized by witnessing conflict that happened in my family. Now I have to take the next step to ask for forgiveness from those I hurt and to forgive others.

Pray that the students who went through Steps to Freedom and MTS are able to live daily in the truth of who they are in Christ. And, the experience the power of forgiveness.

Graduation/ Admission:

We rejoice in the commencement celebration of many graduates from all three Biblical Studies degrees.

What a glory to God for how lives have been transformed through their time as an IBC student.

Please pray that the Bachelors grads experience clarity and an abundance of blessing in their next step in life and ministry. And, for our returning students that their summer is filled with growth, safety and blessing as they live out their faith around family, friends and in ministry.

One day during our summer in service after graduation, we committed to praying and fasting for:

God to bring new students to IBC next fall (we have 4 accepted and are praying for 11 more to enroll)
For the admissions team to have great opportunities this summer to meet with many during recruitment at youth camps, etc.
That the Lord would protect those who are in the application process. The enemy is relentless in interfering with and attacking a potential student’s life and family. Clearly, by attending this school they will find freedom in Christ and become a positive, godly, life-changer wherever they go while shining brightly for God.

Please pray with us for the above recruitment and enrollment items.

My heart is filled with such joy at what the Lord is doing in and through this ministry at IBC, through your partnership. Thank you for being on this Kingdom building journey with me through your faithful prayers and support. I’m blessed to be united with you, all for God’s glory!

Rejoicing in God’s goodness, faithfulness, grace, hope and love,